[The Open Championship] Ryan Fox Captures the Claret Jug Amid Historic Scoring at Royal Birkdale

The crowning moment of the 2026 Open Championship belonged to New Zealand’s Ryan Fox, who successfully lifted the iconic Claret Jug. Finishing at 10-under par (-10), Fox fended off a fierce leaderboard to claim his maiden major championship victory.

His triumph at Royal Birkdale was defined by a stunning dual-achievement: he not only fired a historic 62 to tie the record for the lowest single round in major championship history, but he also dominated the analytical conversation with his lightning-fast pace of play. Earning widespread praise for his unique "superpower" as the fastest player on tour, Fox conquered the links with both historic scoring and unparalleled rhythm.

Beyond the Champion Golfer of the Year's historic round, the tournament witnessed unprecedented scoring conditions, highlighted by two other players executing historic architectural breakdowns of the Royal Birkdale layout:

The Australian standout sent shockwaves through the field by firing an unbelievable 62, officially matching the major championship record and thrusting himself into the final-round mix.

Originally not even supposed to be at The Open due to the early arrival of his second daughter, American Sam Burns delivered a spectacular Friday performance. He finished his round with three consecutive birdies—sinking a 40-foot putt on the 16th, a 20-foot putt on the 17th, and incredibly holing out from a bunker on the 18th. Astonishingly, Burns carded his 62 just 22 minutes after Herbert and walked off the green completely unaware he had tied the major championship record.

The final round delivered absolute peak competitive tension. Cameron Young mounted a spectacular Sunday charge, firing a blistering 64 to surge up the leaderboard. Despite executing a flawless strategic masterclass under pressure and posting a 9-under par (-9) total, the effort was not quite enough; Young ultimately finished just one shot short of Fox, securing a runner-up finish.

The Southport native Tommy Fleetwood delivered a spectacular performance all week, feeding off the roaring hometown crowds. Showcasing elite resilience and world-class ball-striking, Fleetwood remained in deep championship contention throughout the weekend. While he didn't lift the Claret Jug this time, his phenomenal run at Royal Birkdale proved once again that he is a perennial major threat, leaving the golfing world incredibly optimistic about his inevitable major breakthrough.

The competitive landscape remained fierce until the final putt. Bryson DeChambeau successfully navigated back into the final-round mix despite battling back from a much-discussed rules penalty. Concurrently, defending champion Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy sustained high-level execution, anchoring a leaderboard that provided non-stop entertainment for the global golfing audience.